Sherman Accused Of Beating Son

BUFFALO GROVE — Outspoken atheist activist Rob Sherman was arrested and charged Thursday with domestic battery for allegedly beating his 16-year-old son during an incident in their Buffalo Grove home.

The boy, who police said had noticeable facial swelling and bruises after the incident Tuesday night, also won a court order of protection that prevents Sherman from going near his son until a judge hears more evidence in the case later this month.

Authorities said Sherman, 45, was taken into custody Thursday morning after he came to the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court, where his wife and son were testifying as police sought an arrest warrant for Sherman.

Judge Francis Glowacki approved a warrant for Sherman's arrest on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. Sherman was released on a personal recognizance bond a short time later.

Officials with the state's child-welfare agency said Thursday that they also are reviewing the incident. A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said the agency has had no prior contact with the Sherman family.

In nearly two decades of public lobbying and filing lawsuits, Sherman has become known as the Chicago area's most vocal atheist activist. The former head of the local chapter of the American Atheists, Sherman has sued often to maintain a strict separation of church and state. He forced several suburbs to erase religious images and phrases from city seals, water towers and government centers.

With his son, he also has taken on the Boy Scouts of America for requiring young members to pledge an allegiance to God.

In 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case, brought by Sherman on behalf of his son, over the Cub Scouts' pledge and the group's practice of meeting in public schools. Sherman sued again last year, accusing the Dallas-based Scouts of discrimination for rejecting his son's application to join the Explorer Scouts program affiliated with the Buffalo Grove Police Department. Sherman's suit forced Buffalo Grove to sever its five-year affiliation with the Explorer group.

Tuesday night's incident occurred after Sherman returned from an appearance on a local radio show, police said. In statements provided to police, the boy said Sherman jumped on him in bed and began beating him on the face with fists and open-handed slaps. The youth reported being struck 10 to 20 times, including several blows to his legs and back.

The next morning, the boy told his counselor at Buffalo Grove High School what had happened, authorities said. Police said the counselor later reported that the boy had made similar accusations in the past though never had showed any physical marks.

The youth was taken to the Buffalo Grove Police Department, where he was questioned and photographed.

According to the police report, Sherman characterized the incident as "a little tussle and a struggle. I wanted to put the fear of God in him. . . . Did I knock him around? Yeah . . . just to get his attention."

In an interview Thursday, Sherman said he had been frustrated over the youth's reluctance to baby-sit his young sister and upset about the boy's relationship with a teenage girl. But Sherman said he was merely punishing his son and never struck the boy in the face.

"My kid misbehaved, and I spanked him, so he had me arrested for battery," Sherman said. "There's no story here. It's his way of retaliating for being spanked."

At least until the June 17 hearing, the youth will stay at his girlfriend's home under an agreement approved by the judge.